The spotlight shines brightly on Montreal Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander as he prepares to lead his team into the 2025 Grey Cup against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Winnipeg. The American signal-caller carries a remarkable perfect 13-0 record as a CFL starter into the championship game on November 16th.
Injury Concerns Cloud Championship Preparation
All eyes will be on Alexander's health during Grey Cup week after he re-aggravated his left hamstring during Montreal's 19-16 East Division final victory over Hamilton. The quarterback has battled this injury throughout the season, spending two separate stints on the injured list and limiting him to just seven games in his first full year as starter.
The Alouettes' record tells the story of Alexander's importance to the team. Montreal posted a perfect 7-0 record with Alexander under center but struggled to a 3-8 mark in games he didn't start. When asked about his quarterback's status, head coach Jason Maas acknowledged the uncertainty while expressing confidence in his team's depth.
"Davis has played with this injury for a few games, he played the majority of our training camp with it," Maas stated. "I know he knows how to deal with it but it remains to be seen how bad it is. If he does not go, we'll still have the same expectation on our team, which is to go in and win."
Alexander's Determination and Team Resilience
There's no doubt in Alexander's mind about his availability for the championship game. When he tweaked the hamstring in the fourth quarter against Hamilton, Maas instructed backup McLeod Bethel-Thompson to warm up, but Alexander emphatically refused to leave the game.
The 27-year-old quarterback owns the best start to a CFL career with an 11-0 regular season record and has won both of his postseason starts. Despite not having his best performance against Hamilton—completing 19 of 26 passes for 210 yards with a touchdown and interception—Alexander demonstrated the resilience that has defined Montreal's season.
"I didn't play the cleanest game... but I don't have to be Superman for this team to win," Alexander reflected. "Whether people believe that or not, I hope now they do. This is a full unit, it's one heartbeat. We talk about this all the time... we're as resilient as it comes."
Coaching Experience and Historical Context
This Grey Cup matchup marks the third championship meeting between Montreal and Saskatchewan. The Alouettes emerged victorious in both previous encounters, winning 28-27 in 2009 and 21-18 in 2010.
Maas brings significant championship experience to the sidelines, making his second Grey Cup appearance as a head coach. The former CFL quarterback won two titles as a player with Edmonton (2003, 2005) and another as an assistant with Toronto (2012). He emphasized that the team will adjust their offensive gameplan if Alexander's mobility remains limited.
"When you have that hindrance, then you have to trust the offence and the offence is built with answers," Maas explained. "We'd have to come up with a gameplan that plays to what he's able to do. I know he's fully capable of playing in that pocket and making good decisions."
Across the field, Saskatchewan's Corey Mace makes his Grey Cup debut as a head coach, though he brings championship pedigree as a defensive lineman with Calgary (2014) and as an assistant with both the Stampeders (2018) and Toronto (2022).
Quarterback Contrast and Path to the Championship
If Alexander starts on Sunday, it will mark his first appearance against Saskatchewan this season. The teams split their two regular-season meetings, with each winning on the road. Backup quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson started both games for Montreal, including a 48-31 shootout victory in Regina on September 13th where he threw for 379 yards and three touchdowns.
Saskatchewan makes its first Grey Cup appearance since 2013 when they defeated Hamilton 45-23 in Regina. The Roughriders earned their spot in this year's championship when 39-year-old quarterback Trevor Harris connected with Tommy Nield on a three-yard touchdown pass with just 11 seconds remaining to defeat the B.C. Lions 24-21 in the West Division final.
Harris brings extensive championship experience to the game, having won Grey Cups with Toronto (2012) and Ottawa (2016), while also starting for Ottawa in their 2018 title game loss to Calgary. This contrast in quarterback experience—the veteran Harris seeking his third championship against the undefeated but relatively inexperienced Alexander—adds compelling drama to the CFL's showcase event.
Montreal enters the game seeking their ninth Grey Cup championship overall, while Saskatchewan aims for their fifth title. The Alouettes are making their second Grey Cup appearance in three years, having defeated Winnipeg 28-24 in 2023.
